Dispenser for lard and similar semisolids



March 11, 1952 N. DUNCAN DISPENSER FOR LARD AND SIMILAR SEMISOLIDS Filed Nov. 16, 1950 Ill/I/l/777 3nnentor LEE Norman Duncan (lttomegs Patented Mar. 11, 1952 DISPENSER FOR LARD AND SIMILAR SEMISOLIDS Lee Norman Duncan, Oklahoma, City, Okla. Application November 16, 1950, Serial No. 195,953

5 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a dispenser for lard and similar semisolids of a type wherein measured quantities may be accurately determined and removed from a supply of the material by the insertion and operation of the implement therein.

More particularly the implement includes a wire or rod segment of a definite area which may be depressed into the material to a predetermined depth and then by means of similar rod or wire cutting elements movable across the under surface of the segment the measured volume of the material may be detached for removal. Such volume or measured quantity is determined by a gauge and an index as to volume for indicating the depth of penetration of the segment. As will appear hereinafter the construction is primarily intended for the dispensing of lard or other shortening material such as vegetable shortening wherein accurately measured amounts may be removed from a can of a size extensively used to advantage. However it may be employed in the dispensing of other materials, as cheese, butter or ice cream by way of example.

Other details, objects and advantages of my invention will appear in the following description supplemented by the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and illustrat' broken away to illustrate details of construction.

and also a shortening can in vertical section is shown for illustrating the operation of the dispenser in such a container.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2 with the cutters in open position and cutter operating parts above line 33 shown in broken lines.

Fig. 4 is a similar horizontal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 but with the cutters in closed position.

Figv 5 is a vertical detail sectional view on a larger scale taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional View taken on line 66 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, a dispenser sector Ill, a pair of cutting elements II and a gauge l2 are shown in a highly satisfactory arrangement, wherein upright portions of rods or wires l3 and M respectively coextensive with the sector and cutter elements, extend vertically through an upright casing l5 upon which the gauge I 2 is slidingly mounted.

The upper ends l6 of rods l3, extending from sector I0 are bent laterally to the rear, in the opposite direction from the sector and are embedded in a handle I! of plastic or other suitable material for engagement in the hand of an operator of the dispenser. The upper portions of wire or rods [4 are bent laterally outward at a slight angle from the position of cutters Ii, as best indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, and then bent downwardly and back upon themselves. These laterally extending portions provide thumb and finger engaging elements I9 for operating the cutters when the handle ll is held by aid of the other three fingers of the same hand.

The ends 26 of rods 14 of cutters H are bent laterally toward each other and provide returners for the ends of a C-shaped spring 2| having perforations 22 adjacent to its ends through which engaging element portions of the rods extend inward from ends 20 which act as retainers for the spring. This spring, being bent around the back of the upper end of casing l5, tends to hold the cutters II in open position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 but yields to the thumb and finger pressure on the engaging elements l9 so that the cutters may be swung to closed position as shown in Fig. 4.

Referring further to sector I0, it will be noted that it is formed of continuous piece of rod or wire stock from one end portion IE to the other end portion 16, which end portions are embedded in the handle l1, thereby providing a relatively rigid unitary structure. Likewise each of the cutters H is a unitary structure of continuous rod or wire stock, from the cutter portion proper, to the inwardly bent end 20 at the finger engaging element at the upper portion thereof.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that the sector elements include a curved front part 23 with rearwardly extending substantially radial parts 24 the rear ends being offset slightly at 25 where they connect with the upright portions I3. Upright portions l3 of this sector I!) and upright portions l4 extending from cutters ll extend alongside each other in a square formation substantially at the axis of the curved front part 23. Cutter elements II are also substantially radially disposed and in their open position are substantially parallel with and about half covered longitudinally, when viewed from above, by the sector portions I4, as provided for by the ofisets 25. Obviously, without the offsets they would not be parallel and would not be covered by the sector portions 24 at the inner portions when the outer ends of the cutters H are partially under the sector members 24.

As shown at 26 cutters l l and sector members 24 are formed with cooperating projections 21 and projection receiving depressions 28 respectively by upsetting operations or the like which provide a limited Opening movement of the cutter elements ll with respect to the sector l0. By this arrangement with cutter l l projecting slightly beyond the sector portions 24, they form a widened side portion for the sector which when pressed down into the material cuts an opening therein wider than a single wire or rod member. When the cutters l l are closed this widened opening affords an air passage past the sector members so that the portion of the material defined by the operation of the dispenser entering the same may be removed without any suction or vacuum effect on the mass or measured amount of material to be removed.

Casing 15, which houses rods l3 and I4 therein extending upwardly from sector In and cutting elements H, comprises a channel member the web portion 28 of which covers the front of rods [3 and the rearwardly extending flanges 29 thereof cover the sides of the rods 13 and I4. Extensions 30 and 3| at the top and bottom of flanges 29 are bent inwardly back of rods 14 and thereby maintain the channel assembled as a housing l5 for the rods. Rods l4 carrying cutters H, are free to turn in the housing for a cutting operation when the finger operating members l9 are pressed together and for spring 2| to return them to open position of the cutters.

The upper end of the web 28 of the housing channel is provided with an extension 32 as shown in Fig. l which acts as a stop for operating members [9 for the cutters II, so that when the opcrating members are pressed together the cutters II will be swung into engagement along the mid radius of sector Ill as shown in Fig. 4. This effects the cutting action on the lard, vegetable shortening, or other material and in this mid position of the closed cutters also affords a central support for lifting the material from a supply container C or the like;

At the sides of web 29 of the housing channel, at the upper ends, also are a pair of lateral extensions 33 which cover the upper ends of rods l3 and extend to engage under the lateral portions [8 of the cutter rods l4.

Gauge I2 mounted on upright casing [5 comprises a channel member having a web 43 and flanges 31 which engage the web and flanges respectively of casing I5 and extensions 36 at the upper and lower ends of flanges 37 are bent inwardly to engage the edges of flanges 29 of the casing l5 and maintain the gauge assembled thereon. Extensions 3!] and 3| on the casing channel afford upper and lower limiting stops for the gauge [2.

A'lower extension 38 terminating in a horizontal outwardly pointed member 39 acts as an indicator for determining the depth of penetration of the sector I and cutters H in material to be dispensed.

One of the side channel flanges 31 has an index opening 40 therein for cooperating with a scale 4| on the corresponding fiange 29 of easing which is calibrated in tablespoons and by setting the gauge thereby, the desired quantity of the material to be dispensed may be determined.

The web 28 of casing l5 has a similar scale 42 4 graduated in portions of a cup and the web 43 of the gauge [2 has a corresponding index opening 44 for cooperation with this scale.

The channel part of gauge i2 may fit casing l5 snugly so as to be held in place by friction but if desired it may be provided with a resilient engaging member 45 as shown in Fig 5, which will yieldingly hold the members in engagement for any desired positioning of the gauge on the casing. A ball or detent 46 in an aperture 41 in web 43 of gauge I2 fixes this member to the gauge.

As stated this dispenser is primarily intended to cut slugs of lard or other material, such as vegetable shortening from a three pound can C, such as that in which Crisco is vended. The can C is about five inches in diameter. For this use, the sector 10 is preferably constructed with a radius a little less than half of the five inch diameter (about 2-9; inches) and with the cutters H to cover an arc of approximately In operation a person takes the device and sets the slide gauge l2 to indicate the amount desired. Then the tool is forced downwardly in the mass of lard in the can, locating the arcuate portion in line contact with the interior of the can. Upon pushing down into the lard, channels will be formed by the movable and stationary arms H and 24 as well as the arcuate portion until the indicator pointer member 39 on the slide rests upon the mass in the can. The thumb and index levers are then operated to swing the movable cutter arms ll into parallel relation, thereby cutting the slug from the mass at the bottom. The slug is then lifted from the can and the quantity is substantially that for which the slide gauge has been set.

It will be seen that by such an operation the slug of material removed from the can is substantially a quadrant, and the next slug to be removed may be taken either in the same position removing another slug from below the position occupied by the first slug or the tool may be rotated 90 to take a slug from an adjacent quadrant of the material in the can. By continuing to change the position between subsequent operations the material is removed completely around the upper original .level in four operations due to the arrangement of the sector as a quadrant. Of course if the parts were arranged to cover an arc of three slugs of material would cover the entire circumference. Thus, it is preferable to arrange the sector to cover an are such that slugs equal sized removed will cover the entire circumference, without leaving a smaller portion than a complete slug after several slugs have been removed.

While the dispenser has been designed for making a number of full cuts from an entire circumference in a can C of a size popularly in use it is obvious that it may be used in any other source of supply of material for removing slugs thereof having quantities which may be very accurately determined.

I claim:

1. A dispenser for lard or similar material including a vertically movable cutting element in the form of a sector including a curved portion with substantially radial portions defining the area of a slug of material, and lateral cutting elements including a pair of rods extending substantially under said radial portions of said vertically movable cutting sector and pivoted adjacent to the axis of the vertically moving cutting element, said lateral cutting elements providing a support following their cutting operation.

2. A dispenser for lard or similar material including a vertically movable cutting element in the form of a sector including a curved portion with substantially radial portions defining the area of a slug of material, lateral cutting elements including a pair of rods extending substantially radially along the under surface of said vertically movable cutting sector and adapted to be swung toward each other from the substantially radial portions of the vertically movable cutting sector, spring means for swinging said lateral cutting elements outward, and stop means associated with the lateral cutting elements and substantially radial portions of the vertically movable cutter to limit the outward movement of the lateral cutters to positions parallel with and projecting slightly beyond the outer sides of substantially radial portions of the vertically movable cutter.

3. A dispenser for lard or similar material including a vertically movable cutting element in the form of a sector including a curved portion with substantially radial portions defining the area of a slug of material, lateral cutting elements including a pair of rods extending substantially radially along the under surface of said vertically movable cutting sector and adapted to be swung toward each other from the substantially radial portions of the vertically movable cutting sector, spring means for swinging said lateral cutting elements outward, stop means associated with the lateral cutting elements and substantially radial portions of the vertically movable cutter to limit the outward movement of the lateral cutters to positions parallel with and projecting slightly beyond the outer sides of substantially radial portions of the vertically movable cutter, said vertically movable and lateral cutting elements each having continuous rods extending upwardly therefrom along the axis of the sector of the vertically movable cutting element, a casing housing said rods, a handle extending from the upper end of said casing laterally in the opposite direction of the vertically movable cutting element and in which the ends of the vertically movable cutting element rods are secured, and operating finger pieces extending from the upper ends of the rods of the lateral cutters substantially over the lateral cutters.

4. A dispenser for lard or similar material including a vertically movable cutting element in the form of a sector including a curved portion with substantially radial portions defining the area of a slug of material, lateral cutting elements including a pair of rods extending substantially radially along the under surface of said vertically movable cutting sector, and adapted to be swung toward each other from the substantially radial portions of the vertically movable cutting sector, spring means for swinging said lateral cutting elements outward, stop means associated with the lateral cutting elements and substantially radial portions of the vertically movable cutter to limit the outward movement of the lateral cutters to positions parallel with and projecting slightly beyond the outer sides of substantially radial portions of the vertically movable cutter, said vertically movable and lateral cutting elements each having continuous rods extending upwardly therefrom along the axis of the sector of the vertically movable cutting element, a casing housing said rods, a handle extending from the upper end of said casing laterally in the opposite direction of the vertically movable cutting element and in which the ends of the vertically movable cutting ele ment rods are secured, operating finger pieces extending from the upper ends of the rods of the lateral cutters substantially over the lateral cutters, and a sliding gauge on the casing housing said rods for cooperation with scales of the casing to determine the penetration of the vertically movable cutter into the material for the dispensing of the required amount of the material.

5. A dispenser for lard or similar material including a vertically movable cutting element in the form of a sector including a curved portion with substantially radial portions defining the area of a slug of material, lateral cutting elements including a pair of rods extending substantially radially along the under surface of said vertically movable cutting sector and adapted to be swung toward each other from the substantially radial portions of the vertically movable cutting sector, spring means for swinging said lateral cutting elements outward, stop means associated with the lateral cutting elements and substantially radial portions of the vertically movable cutter to limit the outward movement of the lateral cutters to positions parallel with and projecting slightly beyond the outer sides of substantially radial portions of the vertically movable cutter, said vertically movable and lateral cutting elements each having continuous rods extending upwardly therefrom along the axis of the sector of the vertically movable cutting element, a casing housing said rods, a handle extending from the upper end of said casing laterally in the opposite direction of the vertically movable cutting element and in which the ends of the vertically movable cutting element rods are secured, operating finger pieces extending from the upper ends of the rods of the lateral cutters substantially over the lateral cutters, and an extension on the upper portion of said casing extending between the operating finger pieces to limit the movement of the lateral cutters into parallel engagement in the mid portion of the vertically movable cutting element sector.

LEE NORMAN DUNCAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 98,938 Eaton Jan. 18, 1870 172,767 Patton Jan. 25, 1876 

